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Judge Blocks Trump’s Attempt to Shut Down USAID, Slams Musk-Led Agency Overreach
- Federal judge blocks Trump administration’s attempt to shut down USAID, citing constitutional violations.
- Elon Musk’s role in government efficiency efforts faces legal scrutiny amid claims of overreach.
- Court orders restoration of USAID systems and halts employee terminations, but no reinstatements yet.
A federal judge has halted the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID), issuing a strong rebuke to the team spearheading the shutdown.
In a ruling on Tuesday, Judge Theodore Chuang blocked any further steps by the Department for Government Efficiency (Doge), led by Trump ally Elon Musk, to close the agency. The judge said the attempt to shutter USAID likely violated the US Constitution “in multiple ways.”
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Judge Chuang ordered Doge to immediately restore USAID employees’ access to critical computer and payment systems, and prohibited any further terminations. However, he stopped short of ordering the reinstatement of staff who had already been placed on leave.
The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by 26 anonymous USAID employees. They accused Musk of pursuing a “predictable and reckless slash-and-burn pattern” in his efforts to dismantle key government institutions. Their attorneys argued that Musk’s authority was illegitimate, noting he had neither been nominated nor confirmed for any official government role, and asked the court to halt and reverse Doge’s actions.
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USAID was among the first targets for cuts after President Trump returned to office in January, ordering a 90-day freeze on all US foreign aid. Since then, over 80% of USAID’s operations have reportedly been suspended.
In court filings, Musk and Doge argued that his role was purely advisory. But Judge Chuang found that both Musk and Doge had exercised direct control over USAID operations, undermining constitutional protections and harming not only the employees but also the broader public interest.
The ruling sparked outrage in the Trump administration. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly called the decision a “miscarriage of justice” and accused “rogue judges” of blocking the will of the American people. She vowed the ruling would be appealed.
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Norm Eisen, executive chair of the State Democracy Defenders Fund and legal counsel for the USAID employees, hailed the court’s decision. “This is a milestone in pushing back on Musk and Doge’s illegality,” Eisen said. “They are performing surgery with a chainsaw, harming not just USAID’s mission but the broader stability of our government.”
The ruling marks the latest legal blow for the Trump administration. A day earlier, another federal judge halted the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members, prompting a sharp response from President Trump, who called for the judge’s impeachment. That remark drew a rare public rebuke from the chief justice of the US Supreme Court.
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